[Neonatal hearing screening with the Echosensor automated device for otoacoustic emissions. A comparative study]

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Neonatal Screening
• Hearing Health

Background:

• Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) are internationally recommended for hearing screening.
• Germany lacks an objective neonatal hearing screening method despite the need for early detection of congenital hearing loss (1-6 per 1000 incidence).
• Existing OAE methods require trained personnel and specialized equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Echosensor device for OAE recordings.
• To compare Echosensor results with a conventional OAE device (ILO88) and brainstem audiometry standards.
• To determine the suitability of the Echosensor for systematic hearing screening in Germany.

Main Methods:

• Audiologically trained staff performed OAE recordings on 111 newborn children.
• Comparison between the Echosensor and a conventional OAE measurement device (ILO88).
• Assessment of reliability and validity against established brainstem audiometry standards.

Main Results:

• The Echosensor demonstrated good correspondence with the ILO88 results.
• The device provides high sensitivity and specificity for hearing screening.
• The Echosensor is user-friendly and allows for rapid OAE recordings with automatic result evaluation.

Conclusions:

• The Echosensor is a reliable and valid tool for otoacoustic emissions hearing screening.
• The device meets the requirements for systematic hearing screening in Germany.
• The Echosensor offers an accessible and effective method for early detection of hearing loss in neonates.